A mechanical engineering course enables you to gain skills and knowledge concerning things like manufacturing, electrical engineering, mechatronics, thermodynamics, and stress analysis.
Getting a bachelor’s degree is worthwhile. You would be thoroughly introduced to coursework, research opportunities, and internships, all of which can help you land the ideal job after graduation.
But which jobs can you actually get after taking a course in mechanical engineering?
Here are some of the opportunities available.
Set Up Your Own Business, e.g. Welding and Fabrication
After you have successfully completed a mechanical engineering course, you could go straight into setting up your own business. For instance, you could set up a machine shop to provide welding and fabrication services. Elevate your engineering skills by checking out the top mechanical engineering courses from NPTEL, designed to meet the industry’s demands.
It will take funding to set up your own business, but when you buy a used robotic welder or other second-hand equipment, rather than brand new machinery, you can easily cut costs and still have fully-functioning equipment.
Determine which areas of mechanical engineering interest you most and which industries you are passionate about. Then spend time developing a solid business plan to get your startup off the ground.
Aerospace Engineer
Speaking of getting off the ground, you may want to consider a career in aerospace engineering.
You will work with cutting-edge technologies and probably work for a well-known international company if you become an aerospace engineer.
A career in aerospace engineering involves researching, designing, developing, and testing things like military and civil aircraft, space vehicles, satellites, and weapons systems.
Tasks could involve improving things like fuel efficiency and flight safety or developing technologies that help to meet the needs of customers.
Also, a role in aerospace engineering increasingly addresses air travel’s environmental impact.
Automotive Engineer
If you have a passion for cars and other vehicles, a career in automotive engineering could be the ideal option for you.
As an automotive engineer, you would design, develop, and manufacture cars, motorcycles, trucks, buses, and other vehicles, as well as their engineering systems. Your duties could also include modifying vehicles that are already in production.
In addition to having mechanical engineering skills, you will need to develop commercial skills for the industry you work in.
Once you have some experience under your belt, you will probably choose to specialize in a certain area, such as engines or exhaust systems. And you could focus on either the design, the development, or the production.
Contracting Civil Engineer
Working as a contracting civil engineer, you will oversee construction projects on the ground. You will work with consulting engineers to organize on-site resources, ensure projects run on time, and ascertain construction sites are safe to work on. You could also be responsible for project budgeting.
To become a contracting civil engineer, you will need a good understanding of design and construction processes, and health and safety issues.
You could choose to specialize in a specific area of civil engineering, which includes buildings, geotechnical engineering, the power industry, coastal and marine projects, tunneling, and waste management.
Nuclear Engineer
A nuclear engineer’s job can involve designing, building, running, or decommissioning a nuclear power plant.
Depending on the exact role, you could design totally new systems, maintain existing systems or find ways to improve the stability, efficiency, and sustainability of a nuclear power plant.
There are various fields you could specialize in as a nuclear engineer. Mechanical engineers, chemical engineers, electrical engineers, and specialist engineers like hydraulic engineers, are all needed in nuclear engineering.
You also have the option to specialize in areas like health and safety, quality control, and reactor operation.
Control and Instrumentation Engineer
This role involves the management of the advanced equipment used for monitoring control machinery in the manufacturing or processing industry.
As a control and instrumentation engineer, you would be responsible for designing, developing, and installing equipment to ensure control engineering systems operate safely, effectively, and efficiently.
To work as a successful control and instrumentation engineer, you will need to develop skills in certain control disciplines, such as advanced process control, distributed control systems, and programmable logic controllers.
CAD Technician
If you love designing products and parts, consider becoming a computer-aided design technician.
Using your engineering, mathematical, and IT skills, you would design things like machinery or buildings using CAD software.
You would work closely with design engineers and architects to turn their ideas into accurate technical drawings in 2D and 3D models.
Most CAD technicians work in engineering, construction, and manufacturing industries.
Once you have some experience, you may wish to specialize in a field like electrical, mechanical, or structural design.
Clinical Technologist
You can work in an important field by becoming a clinical technologist.
Your main duty would be to ensure the equipment and technology used in hospitals to diagnose and treat patients is working to a high standard. You would need to make sure the equipment is accurate, safe, and well-maintained.
Your daily tasks would involve testing medical equipment and fixing any problems you detect.
Typically, as a clinical technologist, you would work closely with other professionals, like radiologists and clinical scientists.
Technical Sales Engineer
The above jobs are all directly related to a mechanical engineering degree qualification, but there are other positions available for people who have successfully completed mechanical engineering courses.
For instance, you could become a technical sales engineer.
The role involves using your technical knowledge, alongside sales skills, to provide support and advice on a range of products to clients from organizations like factories, local authorities, and public utility providers.
Water Engineer
Another job that is open to you but not directly related to a mechanical engineering qualification is that of a water engineer.
In this position, you would be responsible for supplying clean water, disposing of wastewater and sewage, and preventing flood damage. Also, you could work with various types of liquids in addition to water.
A key part of your job as a water engineer will involve asset management. That includes repairing and maintaining structures or buildings that are used to control water resources, such as reservoirs, pumping stations, and sea defense walls.
